Autonomic Balance Differences Through Heart Rate Variability Between Adults with and Without Chronic Low Back Pain

Background: Chronic pain has been reported as one of the leading causes of disability in the world, being associated with a potential impact on autonomic balance. Objective: The aim was to compare sympathetic and parasympathetic activity through heart rate variability (HRV) between adults with and w...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Fernández Morales, Carlos, Espejo Antúnez, Luís, Albornoz Cabello, Manuel, Yañez Álvarez, Ángel, Cardero Durán, María de los Ángeles
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2027
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:idus________::5d783c522a487b3a5e7c5ceb688f6ad7
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/186271
https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13050509
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Chronic low back pain
Heart rate variability
Autonomic nervous system
Descripción
Sumario:Background: Chronic pain has been reported as one of the leading causes of disability in the world, being associated with a potential impact on autonomic balance. Objective: The aim was to compare sympathetic and parasympathetic activity through heart rate variability (HRV) between adults with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: An observational study was conducted in which HRV parameters were recorded using time-domain measures—root mean square of successive differences between consecutive RR intervals (rMSSD), minimum and maximum heart rate variability (Min HR and Max HR), and mean heart rate (Mean HR)—and nonlinear measures—Poincaré plot indices SD1 and SD2, Stress Score (SS), and sympathetic/parasympathetic ratio (S:PS). Results: The results showed statistically significant differences between groups (p < 0.05), with higher parasympathetic activity parameters in the group of healthy subjects (rMSSD: p < 0.001; SD1: p = 0.030) and higher sympathetic activity in the CLBP group (SD2, SS, and S:PS ratio: p < 0.001). All parameters showed large effect sizes. Conclusions: These findings show the association between autonomic balance mechanisms and pain regulation in adults with CLBP.